News Update

November 1, 2017

Angus Kicks Off Annual
Convention in Fort Worth

More than 2,500 guests are expected to attend the largest Angus Convention to date Nov. 4-6 in Fort Worth, Texas. The weekend-long convention offers an industry-leading trade show and unmatched beef industry educational seminars. Country recording artist and TV personality Red Steagall will serve as the Angus Convention emcee.

“The 2017 Angus Convention truly offers something for everyone in the cattle industry,” said Clint Mefford, Association director of communications. “From the National Angus Tour and Angus University workshops to the 134th Annual Convention of Delegates, it’s an event seedstock breeders and commercial producers alike won’t want to miss.”

Exceptional educational opportunities are available each day of the three-day convention. The National Angus Tour kicks off on Friday, Nov. 3, with stops at Hoofstock Genetics, an elite embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization facility, and Wilks Ranch, where several Texas Angus Association members will have cattle on display. Also on Friday, the Beef Blitz tour, sponsored by the Certified Angus Beef^® (CAB^®) brand, will give participants a glimpse at how beef products end up on a grocery store shelf or restaurant table.

Continue reading this Angus news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Clint Mefford, Angus Media.

Disease Prevention Tips for Horse Owners

There have been health concerns in the Upper Michigan Peninsula with horse populations in the past week. Several horses that have exhibited symptoms of illness have died. Only a few of the horses affected have been examined by veterinarians and have had samples taken that were sent to the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to obtain an official diagnosis. Given the fact that Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) are reportable diseases in Michigan, when official results are available, they will be made available by the State Veterinarian’s office and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on the Equine Disease Communication Center website.

As of Oct. 4, 2017, there have been fourteen confirmed cases of WNV and three cases of EEE throughout the state of Michigan according to the Equine Disease Communication Center. Similarly, Wisconsin has reported 19 confirmed cases of WNV and 19 cases of EEE.

Horse owners throughout the state are encouraged to contact a veterinarian if a horse in their care exhibits any of the following general signs of illness.

For more information, read the full MSU Extension release online.

— Adapted from a release by Katie Ockert and Karen Waite, Michigan State University Extension.

Give Heifers a Good Start for Disease Immunity

It is important to start building good immunity in replacement heifers before they enter the cow herd and to time their vaccinations appropriately throughout their adult life — to keep their immunity strong.

Chris Chase, professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at South Dakota State University, says the key factor in heifer development is to get started with vaccinations at a young age.

“The big problem I see with heifers is when people buy them and don’t know their vaccination history. It is important to get a couple doses of vaccine into them before they are bred,” he says.

The three diseases to be the most concerned about and which we can do the most good in terms of vaccination are infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) and leptospirosis, says Chase.

There are some other reproductive diseases like neospora that are not as much of a problem in beef cows as in dairy cows, and there is not a very good vaccine for that one. Trich is a big issue in terms of reproductive diseases, but it’s not an easy disease to vaccinate against.

Read this Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.

— Adapted from an article by Heather Smith Thomas for Angus Journal.

Calf-Yearling Price Spread Analysis

Yearling feeder-cattle prices have staged an impressive rally during the last two months, climbing more than $10 per hundredweight (cwt.) at a time in the year when prices usually are trending sideways or lower. Calf prices, which typically trend lower from late summer into the first half of October, have held steady with a little strength coming in the second half of October.

The spread between yearling and calf prices provides the economic signals for buying calves and moving them to wheat pastures instead of selling the calves directly to feedlots. A lower calf cost relative to yearling value gives pasture programs the “green light,” which delays the timing of when cattle go into feedlots from the fall to late this year or the first half of the following year. Such is the case this year, with Oklahoma City 500-550 pound (lb.) steer prices only $9 per cwt. premium to 750-800 lb. steers this October. This premium is a few cents less than last October and is the smallest since 2010 and 2011.

Read the full report online at www.dailylivestockreport.com.

— Adapted from a report by Len Steiner, Steiner Consulting Group.

Angus Sponsors 2017 Beef Producers Seminar Nov. 9

The 2017 Beef Producers Seminar, focused on creating value-added feeder cattle and replacement quality females, is sponsored by the American Angus Association and the University of Missouri Extension. The event will take place Thursday, Nov. 9, in Stanberry, Mo., at the St. Peter Catholic Church. Registration begins at 5 p.m., the seminar will start at 6 p.m. and a beef dinner will be served at 7 p.m.

A panel of four speakers will share their expertise and answer questions from the crowd. Before, during and after the event, attendees also can visit the industry trade show, featuring area cattlemen’s organizations, pharmaceutical companies and beef cattle industry representatives.

“The seminar will provide great information from industry leaders, and attendees will have the chance to ask their burning questions,” said Ginette Gottswiller, director of commercial programs at the Association. “I’m very excited for Shane Tiffany to be there and share what producers need to do to make their calves more profitable in the eyes of a feedyard manager. We hope commercial cattlemen will take advantage of this opportunity to help them be more profitable in the industry.”

Learn more in the full Angus news release online.